Australia’s only electric bus manufacturer has reaffirmed its commitment to local jobs by confirming more than 60% of its labour and components are locally sourced.
Custom Denning employs 180 people at its factory in St Mary’s, Western Sydney, and is proud to be the country’s only Australian Made-certified bus builder.
The company stands ready to create more local jobs, pending Transport for NSW’s (TfNSW) latest tender.
Custom Denning, which has operated for more than 70 years, says its domestic components and workforce far exceed the State Government’s required level of 50% and the company strictly complies with all international procurement rules.
Scott Dunn, Managing Director, said: “Custom Denning buses are locally made, designed and engineered. We are proud to directly support 180 skilled Australian jobs today, and with continued investment and procurement, we are positioned to create hundreds more.
“Our supply chain is clean, transparent, and ethical. We are aware of recent reports but that is not how Custom Denning operates. We are all about responsible procurement and ethical sourcing of materials and equipment. We are about Western Sydney.”
Recent news reports have highlighted concerns about battery components being sourced from parts of the world linked with forced labour. This has sparked increased government scrutiny.
Custom Denning battery systems have been independently audited for compliance with modern slavery legislation and a key supplier has been awarded a Gold Medal by EcoVadis for its ESG actions, giving customers confidence in both quality and conscience.
Mick Neskes, National Relationship Manager, said: “At Custom Denning, we don’t just build world class buses, we build them ethically and responsibly. We are compliant with modern slavery legislation.
“Additionally, we have the capacity to manufacture hundreds more buses per year, right now.
“There is no need to outsource or wait on offshore production, and the solution to fulfil current and future government orders exists here at home, with an Australian workforce and Australian expertise.
“We are proud of our place in Australian manufacturing. We design and build every vehicle that rolls off our assembly line. While we support local jobs and trades, we are asking for similar support from government.”
Custom Denning recently announced that the 100th Element 2 bus had rolled off its assembly line in Western Sydney, solidifying its position as a leader in zero emissions transportation.
The Element series has come a long way since its inception. The first Element bus was completed in 2020 and a year later the Element was added to the Transport for NSW (TfNSW) procurement panel.
In 2023, Custom Denning released the Element 2, an upgraded version designed to meet evolving industry needs. The Element 2 also made its international debut that year, with the first unit exported to the UK, followed by another nine buses delivered overseas in 2024.
As of March 2025, Custom Denning has manufactured 103 Element 2 buses, with 93 already delivered to customers.
FOR INTERVIEW AND FURTHER DETAILS
MEDIA CONTACT
MIKE DUFFY
0438 777 024
SIMON WHEELER
0404 417931
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